creating better school libraries

Creating a fun and attractive environment for school library is an important strategy to support the library’s role as an information center for the school’s community. In this program we have the chance to develop a library in Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School in Jakarta. Our idea is to translate the existing environment into a ‘Jungle of Knowledge’–an environment that would be able to support various literacy activities for students and teachers in this school.

This is the condition of the library in Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School before the development program started.

This library already has a quite extensive book collection, in addition with a spacious area for a library. However, based on our observation, their literacy culture can still be improved. We wanted to create a library environment that will attract the students to go to the library and learn in there on their own initiative. In order to do that, we believe that designing the library by involving the school’s community is an important strategy.

The design process in Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School was based on community participation. We asked students to involve by doing a design workshop and creative surveys. A design workshop is a medium where students can discuss about the role and function of a library, and also serves as an event where students can express ideas about their dream library by making a library model. This workshop was meant for fourth and fifth grader and supported by facilitators from both architecture and library team.

Our creative survey was held using a panel to collect students interests, such as their favorite colors, favorite activities, and book collection that they would like to read. Student can pick their likes based on the option on the panel. In addition to the survey, we also did a drawing workshop as a way to collect any creative ideas about types of spaces that they like.

We then tried to develop a library design based on the results from those workshops and surveys. The ‘Jungle of Knowledge’ concept was developed as spaces that contain many elements that could initiate various activities in the library. The ‘Jungle of Knowledge’ then divided into two main parts, which is ‘Day Jungle’ and ‘Night Jungle’ with its own elements for each part. The existence of various decoration in form of plants and animals that could be used to by the students to learn become an important part of the jungle.

To create a jungle atmosphere, we made a mural that represent a jungle in the daytime. In designing this mural, we started by doing another workshop together with the student. We asked them to make various animal drawings that they like and they want to have in their library. Those various animals drawing will become our material on designing that mural.

It turned out that the drawings from students were quite diverse. Some of the students even drew the animal together with where they live. They drawings consist of various animals both from land and sea. So we created a mural along the library wall that consist of both land and the sea. The land part consists of grass fields complete with flowers and land based animals such as elephant, giraffe, lion, bunny, etc. The sea part consists of coral reefs and various sea animals such as fishes, jellyfish, starfish, squid, etc. Several birds and butterflies also join the scenery by flying among the clouds.

To complete the atmosphere of the jungle in daytime, we also made another workshop, which was a bird origami workshop, made from colored paper. We taught the students to made their own birds and put their name on it.We then used these birds as additional decoration by hanging them in the library’s ceiling.

In one side of the library’s wall, we also hang the students’ drawing in the panel to enliven the atmosphere.

The library part that we allocated to be a ‘Night Jungle’ is the area where students can learn in a formal manner, with proper tables and chairs. In this part we made a mural that represents windows that open to the night skies. We hope that this atmosphere will support student on their formal reading activities that must be done independently and require more concentration and silence.

Other than that, there is also a part of the wall that we painted black. This part of the wall serves as a chalkboard that can be used when students are doing their learning activity together with friends in the library. We also made several pair of eyes that can be addressed as a night animal eyes as trigger for them to imagine about animals and their bodies and play around with them.

It is important for the library to serve as the heart of the school. Not only for reading places, in the ‘Jungle of Knowledge’ we also design several elements that could be used as a trigger for various learning activities.

‘Book Loan Trees’ are trees that designed to trigger students to borrow books actively. There are six trees, each for one class. Each tree is only consist of branches without leaves. Every students that borrow any books is entitled to have one leaf to stick in the tree, so each tree is an accumulation of all the books that the students borrow in every class. If the students in a class love to read and consistently borrowing books to read, then their tree will be increasingly bushy. The leaves that are used for this mechanism was made by the students in our decoration workshops.

One of the table in this library serves as a box that stores a scrabble game. It consists of several letters that is written by the students in a used bottle cap. The students can use these caps to play around and arrange letters with them to sharpen their knowledge and extend their vocabulary. This game can also be used to arrange words that connect with books that they read in the library.

We also hide several animal drawings that could attract students in various places in the bookshelves. By actively looking for books in the shelf, students will discover those drawings. By doing so, we hope that the students will be motivated to explore all of the book collection in the library.

In addition, in this library there is also a place to measure the students’ height, that consist of ants drawing that stack together. This unique height measurement is also a main element that contributes to the atmosphere of ‘Jungle of Knowledge’.

The library in Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School already has quite a large book collection. However, it is important to develop an effective system in order for the books to be used properly by the school’s community. Our library team organised the collection and developed a library management system for the school. The existing collection was organised using a simple classification system so that it could be easily accessed by the students and their teachers. The library team also made several signage for the collection and a classification panel with color codes as a direction for the users, in addition with information about rules that the students must obey in the library. We also did a simple training for teachers about library managing system. We hope that when this program ends, the teachers would be able to continue to maintain the library independently.

At Thursday, 20 January 2010, the ‘Jungle of Knowledge’ library in Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School was officially launched. The launching event was attended by leaders from the National Library Republic of Indonesia, which consist of Mr. Supriyanto (Library Resources Deputi from National Library Republic of Indonesia), Mr. Syarif Bando (Head of the Development Center of Library and Reading Interest), Mrs. Lucya Dhamayanti (Head of Library Development for Schools and Universities Division), Mrs. Sri Sumekar (Head of General and Special Library Development Division), and Mr. Deni Kurniadi (Head of Reading Interest Research Division).

The launching started by speeches from the representation from the National Library that were addressed for the students to motivate them on using their new library and taking care of it together. In this event several students were also appointed as the ‘Little Librarian’. Their main task is to encourage other students to use the library as often as possible, in addition with helping their teachers on managing the library together.

After the brief ceremony, students were allowed to enter the library in shift, from the first graders to the sixth. In this visit they were given a short briefing about library rules and procedures on using the library’s book collection. They were also explained about activities that they can do in the library, such as filling the book loan tree with leaves by borrowing books,playing around with the bottle cap scrabble, guessing and drawing the animals based on their eyes, and other positive activities. The students were very excited to follow all of the activities that we introduced to them. We extremely hope that this excitement will carry on and the ‘Jungle of Knowledge’ will continue to be the students’ center for activities and extending their knowledge for the future.

This library revitalisation program in Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School was funded from Universitas Indonesia and Institution Collaboration Grant 2010.

We highly appreciate all of our team members who have dedicated their time and commitment for this program:

Architecture team: Agung Setyawan, Annisa Marwati, Apel Ranthy, Aron Aditio, Coriesta, Defi Reisna, Dewi Andhika, Diajeng Luki, Diorita Fitrianti, Elmas Ageng, Feby Hendola Kaluara, Ferro Yudistira, Henny Panjaitan, Intan, Jessica, Kristanti Dewi, Mikhael Johannes, Mirradewi Rianty, Mulia Idznillah, Nicky Putra Perwira, Nirwan Arfari, Nurrangsi, Paramita Atmodiwirjo, Prillia Indria, Renny Melina, Riza, Sekar Ayu Novitri, Sheila Putrianti, Silvya Khairunnisa, Widyarko, Yandi Andri Yatmo
Library team: Aditya Soleha, Adit Setya, Aisya Khoirunnisa, Dwi Andriyan, Dwi Diona Septia, Galuh Ayu Puspita

We also thank Mrs. Lucya Dhamayanti, Mr. Deni Kurniadi and Mr. T. Syamsul Bahri from National Library Republic of Indonesia for their continuous support to this program.

Last but not least, thank you to the head of school, teachers and students from Cilandak Barat 01 Primary School for their participation in this program. We hope that this whole process would be beneficial for them in the long term.

School library is an important as a center of student’s literacy learning process. It is essential to develop a supportive environment that aims to encourage students to utilise their library in a more proper way. Although the majority of schools in Jakarta and Depok already have sufficient spaces for a proper library, most of them are still in need for further improvement to function properly as a center for literacy learning among the students. Students need to be aware of their ways of learning and how they be able to do it in the library. The library in Kramat Beji Primary School, Depok is one of the school that represent this issue. We aim to develop this library by involving students and teachers together along the process as a way to bring the community closer to their learning environment.

This is the condition of Kramat Beji Primary School library before development.

Based on our preliminary survey, we found that this library hasn’t been used to its full potential. Our first step in this program was to build commitment together with the school. We have come to an understanding that without full commitment from the school this program would not run as effective, as it needs full support from all parties involved.

School’s community participation is the main element of this program. Students involvement is a key element to nurture sense of belonging to their library and in the process it will ensure the sustainability of the program. For the beginning, we held a library design workshop for fourth and fifth graders. This workshop served as a way to communicate the importance of library in the students’ learning process. In addition, it also enables students to explore their ideas and aspirations about library creatively.

We also conducted a creative survey for second and third graders to explore their interests and likes. The survey enabled students to figure out about their favorite colors, activities that they want to do in the library, and the kind of books that they would love to read. Additionally, we also asked them to draw about their favorite places, to discover more about their likings. This survey has provided valuable information for the next phase of the program, which is to develop a design of a library that meets the need of the students.

Based on all the input, we developed a library design with the idea of ‘Information is Everywhere’. Information is served as a part of every design elements, such as the paintings, graffiti, and other decoration. The arrangement of the space is divided into informal and formal area. Students would be able to use both sides depend on their needs, be it for formal reading, story telling, discussing and other learning activities as well. The design also incorporates all their likes and favorites, such as their favorite colors and their favorite things. It is an important part on stimulating their curiosity and interest on learning.

The library in Kramat Beji Primary School is relatively new. Having built just a year before, the library is still in a very good condition. We only needed to repaint the walls white and then combined it with the student’s favorite colors, which are green, yellow and purple. However, this library didn’t have sufficient furniture for student’s activities. The only furniture they have were two bookshelves with glass doors that are too high and hard to be accessed by the students.

We built several new tables for the student to read and do other activities. We also built them a new bookshelf that is easier for them to access. This bookshelf also serves as the space partition between formal space and informal space. In formal space the students would be able to do their homework and other activities that requires more concentration and silence. While in the informal space, students are more free to discuss with their friends, reading and relaxing at the same time. In addition, we also made several display panel for students to hang their artworks. In order to support a comfortable environment for their activities, we also added two fans to ensure a good air circulation in the library.

We think that how the school’s community feel about their library is an important issue to be addressed. We want them to feel like they own the library and would feel comfortable inside it. The students from various grades were encouraged to made their own ‘traces’ in the library, all in various media. Those traces can be seen in the form of their hand marks in the wall, and drawings and crafts that are displayed in various places, such as the wall, display panel and the bookshelves.

The students were also asked about what kind of information that they think interesting. We then translated those information into several questions that diffused in the library’s wall and ceiling. We also made several additional drawings in the wall based on their interest on animals and modes of transportation.

Their other craft works that they made together are word arrangements that describe about their thinking. In those arrangements they communicate their dreams, ideas about the environment, and their knowledge about geography and space. These artworks also serve as the representations of the library’s idea, which is ‘Information is Everywhere’.

In parallel with the physical construction works, our library team organised the book collection in additional with developing a library system for the school . The library’s book collection was organised with simple book classification system in order for it to be easier to be understood by the teacher.The system is equipped with simple instruction about the collection together with color coded classification panels as a guide for the students or other library users. By doing this training, we hope that when this program is over the school would be able to manage their library independently based on the appropriate standard.

Saturday, 6 November 2010 was a long awaited day. It is our library launching day! At this day the students were highly excited to see their new library. For this event, our special guest was Mrs. Lucya Dhamayanti from the National Library, who gave a very useful advice to students on using their new library creatively and how they need to take care of it. In this event we also chose twelve students as ‘Little Librarians’. Their main tasks are encouraging other students to use their library and helping their teacher on maintaining the library on day to day basis. It is a very important role that the students seemed to be very proud to take.

After that short ceremony, students were allowed to enter the library in shift. They were given a short explanation on the library’s rules, and the procedures of returning and borrowing the books, in addition with book categories based on its type. In addition with that, the Little Librarians were also given explanation about their responsibilities in the library. The students were very enthusiastic to search for books that attract them and then reading it in the library, which is now a very comfortable place to learn.

We hope that the students’ enthusiasm will not perish, as well as we hope the teachers will continue to maintain the library and support it with additional library programs and such. Their commitment on maintaining this library is highly important to ensure the library’s role as the heart of the school for the students’ lifelong learning.

This library revitalisation program in Kramat Beji Primary School was funded from Universitas Indonesia and Institution Collaboration Grant 2010.
We highly appreciate all of our team members who have dedicated their time and commitment for this program:

Architecture team: Agung Setyawan, Annisa Marwati, Apel Ranthy, Aron Aditio, Coriesta, Defi Reisna, Dewi Andhika, Diajeng Luki, Diorita Fitrianti, Elmas Ageng, Feby Hendola Kaluara, Ferro Yudistira, Henny Panjaitan, Intan, Jessica, Kristanti Dewi, Mikhael Johannes, Mirradewi Rianty, Mulia Idznillah, Nicky Putra Perwira, Nirwan Arfari, Nurrangsi, Paramita Atmodiwirjo, Prillia Indria, Renny Melina, Riza, Sekar Ayu Novitri, Sheila Putrianti, Silvya Khairunnisa, Widyarko, Yandi Andri Yatmo
Library team: Aditya Soleha, Adit Setya, Aisya Khoirunnisa, Dwi Andriyan, Dwi Diona Septia, Galuh Ayu Puspita

We also thank Mrs. Lucya Dhamayanti, Mr. Deni Kurniadi and Mr. T. Syamsul Bahri from National Library Republic of Indonesia for their continuous support to this program.

Last but not least, thank you to the head of school, teachers and students from Kramat Beji Primary School for their participation in this program. We hope that this whole process would be beneficial for them in the long term.

This website contains our stories in improving the condition of the school library as an effort to bring architecture closer to the society’s everyday life. So many school libraries suffer from poor condition, leaving the school members unable to use their libraries optimally for the learning process.

In this program, we try to improve the condition of school libraries, so teachers and students will be able to utilize their libraries in a more proper way. This is the condition of Pancoran 08 Elementary School library before we carry out this program. Within these recent years, this library has not been used for its damaged features, moistened room due to frequent flood-affected, exposed ceiling partly damaged by termites, also obsolete and damaged furniture.

After discussing with the school authorities and considering the condition of severely damaged ceiling, we decided to move the library into another room located on the corner of the school, which is now temporarily functioned as a canteen. Despite its also-damaged condition, renovating this room is more feasible compared to the existing library. This room is also brighter than the other one for the direct sunlight and relatively in dry condition even during heavy rain.

This is the condition of the soon to be renovated room. The room’s floor slopes significantly to its end which needs to be addressed first before this room is transformed into a library. The conditions of walls, doors and windows are poor with several cracks; also the wooden cushions and furniture are partly damaged.

One of the program’s aims is to involve the school’s community in improving the condition of their library. Our facilitator team which consists of the students from the Department of Architecture and Department of Library Science Universitas Indonesia held a creative workshop for the fourth and fifth graders to explore their ideas about their dream library. We encouraged them to imagine various creative possibilities for their new library.

Beside the workshop, we also held a survey for the second and third graders to figure out their wants, including the kind of activities they want to do at the library, their favourite readings, also their favourite colours to be applied to the library. The survey was conducted through interactive and fun methods.

Meanwhile, the construction team had also started the necessary repair for the room. We raise the height of the inclined floor and planned to use it as reading and relaxing area.

Floor renovation was still continued today until it was finished.

The arrangement of school library started today. The students participated by contributing their art works to be displayed on the library’s wall, beautifying the room. The creative works are ranging from drawings, composing hand stamps and also other decorations.

The Library Science team worked hard sorting and documenting the existing books, most of them were dusty, damaged, dirty and not well-organized.

The Architecture team did the renovation of the room, furniture, and paint works to deliver a better and more fun library space to the students.